Is "Cowboys and Indians" offensive?

[SinCitysCold]

In an FB group I'm in, someone has asked for recommendations about holding a party, and has mentioned in passing that the theme of the party is "cowboys and Indians". Someone else has come on to tell them that the theme is really very offensive.
The Someone Else is white American, whereas the OP is European, and the party will be held in Europe. I'm inclined to think the American should naff off with their post-colonial hang-ups, but obviously I am not native American so I can't know how they would feel.
What do you think?

Are you friends with the poster who wouldnt let her son go to a pirate themed party by any chance?

I am not. I saw that in passing, though, so it looks like I'll have to go read the thread now.

I think it is a bit off as a theme TBF - also it seems rather anachronistic, do kids really know about/care about 'cowboys and Indians' today?

I suspect there is more sensitivity about it in America than Europe, but that doesn't make it OK to be a thing here. Native American people were killed/died in large numbers by violence, diseases and downright mistreatment that came from European settlers, with people from Indian Nations living with widespread poverty and disadvantage as a result. The whole idea of 'cowboys and Indians' speaks to an image of heroic cowboys and evil 'Injuns' and there is a good reason it has been left behind culturally - not just because of changing fashions.

I don’t like it. Think it’s dated and racist. There are plenty party themes that aren’t.

Cowboys and Indians, nazis and Jews - lovely genocidal games or we could move away from these sort of games

Yes it’s offensive. Firstly, Indians is an offensive term - native Americans or the appropriate tribe name should be used.
Second, the mass genocide of an indigenous people and resulting persecution that persists to this day isnt a party theme but a source of national shame.
Just because we’re in the UK and not as much of an issue day to day doesn’t mean we get to ignore it.

Sorry but your North American friend is right. It’s a theme that should be left in the past.

PerkyPomPoms

“Cowboys and Indians, nazis and Jews - lovely genocidal games confused or we could move away from these sort of games”

I was going to say the same thing.

Its absolutely is racist. Admittedly there are few indigenous north american people in the UK to take offence at it, but why not just choose a non-racist theme?

Yeah that would be a no from me. Happy with a pirate party though.

Wild West? Fine 'Indians' to refer to First Nations? Not fine.

It's currently racist, not a good look.

Is "Cowboys and Indians" offensive?

Yes, absolutely.

Cowboys/girls and the Wild West is fine but I agree Cowboys and Indians should be left in the last now. However, I’m all up for pirate parties and according to tonight’s thread that makes me a terrible person so 🤷🏻‍♀️

It's outdated and a bit offensive. Suggest cowboys and aliens instead?

Yes I think it is offensive. Firstly Native Americans are not Indians, and secondly they are always portrayed as the aggressor when in fact it was the 'cowboys' who stole their land.

Yes, it's really offensive.

Weirdly anachronistic in a British cultural context too - who watches westerns these days? Not your average child.

It would be considered really shocking in America, like nearly as bad as dressing your kids in blackface. Here I don't think we consider it as bad usually, but tbh I would avoid this theme and would not let my kid dress as an Indian. Cowboys on their own is fine imo.

Post-colonial hangups? If only European nations were also trying to engage with the impact of an imperialist past. People are still living out the appalling legacy of white settlement of indigenous nations' lands. The Wet’suwet’en people are, even now, engaged in resistance to protect their heritage against the forces of big business backed by a government which barely pays lipservice to their human rights.

I can recommend some excellent post-colonial and decolonial theorists to read if you really want to understand why this is a hugely racist and offensive theme - regardless of where the party is due to be held.

Ok, fair enough. And yes, you're all right that the "Indians" term is obviously offensive, as is the theme itself. I think I just got my knickers in a twist because it was a N. American person that was lecturing a European about it, when, y'know...
But yes, you were all right, and I was...not right.
It was an adult party, btw, not a kids' one, not that that really makes a difference.

I think I just got my knickers in a twist because it was a N. American person that was lecturing a European about it, when, y'know

I don’t understand what you are inferring

I think I just got my knickers in a twist because it was a N. American person that was lecturing a European about it, when, y'know...

Where do you think the cowboys came from in the first place if not from Europe?

Glad you've changed your mind but you seem to have a very loose grasp of world history. Where so you think non-indigenous Americans came from? When do you think the genocide started? When so you think America declared independence?

was an adult party, btw, not a kids' one, not that that really makes a difference.

The only difference being the "sexy squaw" outfits

I think you could maybe have a Wild West theme, but you can't use the term "Indians" to mean Native Americans, or portray them as "bad guys".

I think I just got my knickers in a twist because it was a N. American person that was lecturing a European about it, when, y'know...

Having lived in North America, I think they are a lot more conscious of racism towards First Nations peoples than Europeans are, just because over here there are so few portrayals of First Nations people that we don’t see how bad the “Cowboys and Indians” stereotype is.

If somebody suggested a “Redcoats and Zulus” party, with the Zulus in blackface and loincloths, we’d all immediately see that as hideously racist. But we pretty much only see Native Americans in 1950s Wild West films so have nothing to compare with.

I almost think it’s worse that it’s an adult party - sounds like an excuse for the girls to wear skimpy Pocahontas dresses, beads, feathers and war bonnets. At least kids would be choosing that theme in all innocence, not because they want to play “sexy dress-up” with somebody else’s culture.